阅读短文, 从每小题所给的四个选项中, 选出一个最佳答案。"Life is short, but there is always time enough for courtesy (礼貌);
— Ralph Waldo Emerson
People love being polite. You might have noticed we are always saying"please", "thank you","excuse me", and"sorry".
When making a request, you ask someone to do something for you. ▲, it may not help them in any way.
Sometimes, you might make a request, and that request can be difficult for the other person to do. So it is necessary to make sure that you are being polite when making a request.
To do this, you might include some words such as"can", "could", or"please" to soften(使温和) your approach. They may make it look like you are asking a question instead of making a request. However, don't worry — the listener will understand you.
For example, if you are in a restaurant and say"I want the bill(账单)" to the waiter, your request will be considered very direct. You might use this kind of language if you are angry or have had very bad service. However, if you wish to sound polite, you might consider speaking like this:
"Can I have the bill, please?"
"Could I possibly have the bill, please?"
We can also use polite language to ask for permission(准许). For example, just sitting down next to someone without asking might be considered a bit forward (鲁莽的). If that person is waiting for a friend, you may create an uncomfortable situation. You can ask for permission first. For example:
"Would it be OK if I sat here?"
"Do you mind if I sit here?"